Dr. Adli Answers your questions: How much does a lapsed patent cost over 20 yrs old?

Q:        How much does a lapsed patent cost over 20 yrs old? and will I get it if all else is correct?  I have a self help exercise equipment idea and went looking threw patent to see if anyone already had it and i found an expired patent that was lapsed due to nonpayment, and I my idea greatly improves upon the expired patent; i had a similar idea that will actually help people loose weight in the middle of our abdominal area and promote tightening of the area also, along with promoting firm muscles in our triceps and biceps too the expired patent.

A:        The vast majority of issued patents concern improvements over already existing products, processes or designs.  The first thing you will need to determine is if your invention is patentable, meaning it is new or a non-obvious variation of what has come before it.  Your patent attorney would be in a position to evaluate your invention and advise you on your options.  He or she would start the patenting process with a search of the "prior art (i.e., what has come before) to determine the improvements of your invention over the prior art and analyze the patentability of those improvements under the standards of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.